Farah Abdessamad

Book Club: The civil war in Yemen has brought about untold suffering. For Yemeni author and journalist Bushra al-Maqtari, bringing those responsible to justice is of paramount concern, as is the necessity to remember those lost to the horrors of war.

The past is a foreign country, they do things differently there. At the turn of the 20th century, many Syrians came to settle in New York, spawning a thriving community. But what was a burgeoning community has been largely forgotten, until now.

Inimitable Algerian artist Rachid Koraïchi's latest exhibition Le Chant de l’Ardent Désir is a transcendental and hypnotic experience that compels the viewer into examining our shared experiences of loss, longing, human suffering and dignity.

Film Review: Three Songs for Benazir is a touching account of Afghan lives amidst division and occupation. Available now on Netflix, the short-form documentary ensures we remember those lives changed beyond repair.

Much of Hrair Sarkissian's art is heavily influenced by his Syrian-Armenian roots. An expression of intergenerational trauma and contemporary uncertainty, Sarkissian's latest exhibition at the Sharjah Art Foundation is a must-see.

Putting pen to paper and brush to canvas, Etel Adnan's influence in the Arab world cannot be understated. Tackling themes of displacement and exile, her career epitomises Arab creative brilliance within a Western-centric art establishment.

Adnan Samman's latest exhibition at the P21 Gallery in London offers a unique window into the cultural ambiguity of Islamic art, and how, in an environment of appropriation and fetishisation, we can redefine our own tales.